Life as seen through the eyes of a frum Reform Jewish rabbi changing the world one Jew at a time

Baruch Dayan HaEmet

Since Talmudic times, this has been the appropriate response upon learning of the death of an individual. It is said without mention of God’s Name or Sovereignty…but we all know Who the Judge is.

It is a counterintuitive reaction. In loss, we want to point blame. We want to rail against the unfairness. Or to scream as a way of filling the silence. And yet our Tradition instructs us to bless the very One who gives (and takes) life.

When the horrific news finally came yesterday, I recited these words. And immediately thought of the now two year old son of the slain rabbi and his rebbetzin. And that is when the words truly made sense.

Like this:

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Thank you for the link, but even more for your thoughts on the phrase ‘Baruch Dayan HaEmet’. I read a blog post last night of someone who did just that, who needed to get out her anger for that phrase. It didn’t suit her. She expressed anger at many, many of God’s judgments (and there have been too many).

Leora — Thanks. I too have always loved that phrase and actually use the whole “HaMakom” idea sometimes in daily prayer.

Jack — ’nuff said.

Lou — thanks for your comment. One correction — I actually did not intend my post to teach that “God has a greater plan” insofar as I don’t for one minute believe that God intended this tragic and horrific death. Rather, I saw God’s Involvement in the fact that their little boy was heroically saved from death. That, to me, was the palpable definition of God as the Eternal Judge.

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